Why Quinn Emanuel Nixed Hong Kong: Litigators There Make Less Than $1M

Despite the seeming appeal of a sizzling Hong Kong legal market, one well-known law firm has nixed the possibility of opening an office there.

Asked to explain why, managing partner John Quinn of Los Angeles-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan had a succinct answer: Not a single litigator there, he believes, makes $1 million annually, reports the Asian Lawyer.

“There were a lot of things that, from a distance, looked attractive to us,” he tells the legal publication. “But I really have the impression that it’s a market that’s beyond competitive with a lot of pressure on billing rates and the revenues and incomes of lawyers impacted accordingly.”

Related coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Wachtell PPP Again Tops Global 100, at $4.35M, Followed by Quinn Emanuel, at $3.62M”